Page 31 of Rancher's Pride

“Well, how did Kipp take that?” Tayla asked, narrowing her gaze at me.

“Not well,” I said as I looked down at my hands. “But I was having a baby, so I might not be the one to ask.” I smiled awkwardly and desperately wanted to change the subject.

“It was fine.” Nash scoffed. “Thankfully, Fallon hadjust had Lottie, so everyone was feeling kind of emotional and I talked my way out of a fight.” Nash’s eyes locked on mine and I briefly forgot my sisters were in the room.

Tayla cleared her throat, and I looked over at her. “Well, I’m going to let you girls get reacquainted.” Nash nodded and went up to his room and the soft thud of his door was all the signal my sisters needed.

They got off the couch and came to where I was sitting and pushed in, so we were all in the overstuffed chair like a can of sardines. “Tell us everything.” Lark said. The fire beside us crackled and popped. Nash’s heavy footsteps above us drew my attention for a moment until they stopped and my sisters staring at me like I held the secrets to life was almost too much.

“There’s nothing to tell. We had a few nights together and obviously were irresponsible.” I shrugged, knowing that would not appease these two.

“No, that wasn’t the only time, not with how that man looks at you, and has always looked at you, Fal.” Lark whined as she pointed up the stairs. “Tell us. Spill, or I will walk up to his room and ask him.” The wind picked up outside and I don’t know why it filled me with dread, but I was uneasy. I was with my sisters. We were actually talking, but something nagged at me.

“Fine.” I sighed, and I explained everything that happened after Dad died, and then the fateful night Josie was conceived. “When he called me in Lexington, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was in the middleof a broken heart and he waited for me to come out of my apartment and there he was leaning up against his truck, looking all Nashish and well.” I shrugged. Did I tell them I jumped into his arms? Kissed him in the middle of the street and would have made love to him there too?

“So what happened?” Lark quizzed, her eyes narrowing at me.

“He wanted me to come home, but he also wasn’t sure he could risk having to deal with Kipp, so wanted us to be a secret for a while.” I looked down at my lap and Tayla put her arm around my shoulder. “God, I was such an idiot. I should have followed him and we could have dealt with Kipp together.”

“It wasn’t the time for you both, but could it be now?” Tayla rests her head on mine.

“I’m married.” I whispered, and both my sisters went rigid beside me.

“You’re what?” They said in unison.

“I got married right after I found out I was pregnant with Josie. He assumed the baby was his, and I never corrected him. He said he ‘had to do the right thing.’” Closing my eyes, I wished someone else had told them what happened. “When I showed up here, I’d driven the entire way without stopping and I was in labor when I got here. I’d also sported a lovely black eye and a split lip. I’m sure Nash would’ve been on a plane to Kentucky if it hadn’t been for the blizzard and Lottie making her presence known. I leftdivorce papers, but I haven’t heard from my lawyer yet.”

“You got married, and you never told us?” Tayla said, and I sensed a sadness in her voice. Out of everything I told them, that’s what they were fussing about?

“It’s not like we’ve ever been close.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I’ve always been the screw up sister, causing trouble and making everyone clean up my messes. Well, this is a mess. I have to clean up on my own.” I sat straighter and clenched my jaw.

“Fallon, you’ve never been a screw up. Spirited, yes, screw up never.” Lark said, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry we weren’t better sisters. We’ve been too focused on racing and being away. It was easier.” Silence hung around us. Grief was a funny thing, and knowing we all seemed to process it by shutting down made me see that we all lost a lot over these last five years.

“Why do you think I stayed gone?” I whispered. None of us dared to say why we all left. That was too much sisterly love for the three of us.

“Is it just me or did Kipp morph into Dad?” Tayla said, frowning. “It’s kind of weird.”

“Tell me about it.” I laughed. “When he marched into the room after I got here, I had to take a second look, because I wasn’t sure what was going on for a moment.” Silence hung in the air for a split second.

Tayla shifted in the chair and propped her elbow on the back and let her hand rest in her palm. “Did youand Nash do it in the barn loft?” Her eyes were wide, and I almost didn’t follow the extreme shift in discussion.

“Yes.” I admitted quietly, in case someone overheard. “Wait, how did you know?”

“I think we’ve all done it in the barn.” Tayla said as she nodded.

“Who?” I turned to look at my oldest sister.

“Rhett Johnston.” She looked at her fingernails and avoided looking at Lark and I.

“You mean Rhett Johnston, that used to work here?” I said, frowning.

“Yep. He was amazing. Too bad Dad fired him when he found out.” She giggled and then sighed. “And then there was Jake. So many times with Jake.”

“Jake as in Doctor Gordon, Jake?” I frowned as I looked at her. She nodded and bit her lip.

“He’s the best I’ve ever had.” Her grin would have lit up the darkness.

“Tay, he’s Lottie’s doctor. How am I supposed to look at him?” I let my shoulder slump and pretended I was disgusted, but I needed to know more about this thing she had with Jake.

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